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Last Updated: Feb 13, 2017 - 1:45:37 AM |
 NASSAU, The Bahamas – Members on both sides of the floor of the House of Assembly have an obligation to not only pass the proposed National Health Insurance Act 2016 [short title], but to also ensure its implementation, Minister of Social Services and Community Development, the Hon. Melanie Sharon Griffin said Thursday.
Mrs. Griffin said Universal Health Coverage will remove the “literal death sentences” some members of society face when dealing with severe, but treatable diseases, because of the lack of funds including, for example, the “hundreds of persons who suffer from kidney failure and have not had the benefit of kidney transplants.
“They are for the most part, tied to a dialysis machine for up to four hours, at least three times per week if they want to stay alive,” Mrs. Griffin said. “The numbers are so high that many of them have to find their way to the Units all hours of the night, early mornings, and through the day.”
Mrs. Griffin said patients on dialysis face a number of other complications.
“Brittle bones, heart failure, low sugar, diabetes and they are also open to infections from insect bites and thorn pricks. Not to mention having to have the port for the hook-up to the dialysis machine moved from place to place in their bodies until sometimes they all fail and their arms are often left disfigured.
“Furthermore, many of them do not have health insurance and are unable to afford private care; unable to afford transplants and the high cost of medication (and so) many of them find themselves having to be assisted by the programmes of the State, particularly if they are unemployed.
“Kidney disease is just one area, but there are many others, as we know the havoc diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and cancer cause in our country daily. It is often said that the health of a nation is the wealth of a nation. It is therefore the duty of any Government to do its best to improve the heath of its people,” Mrs. Griffin added.
Mrs. Griffin said implementation of Universal Health Coverage comes at a critical time for The Bahamas and Bahamians as research shows that chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease account for a whopping 72 per cent of all deaths in the country.
Statistics further show that there have been an increasing number of deaths due to kidney disease, prostate cancer and hypertension amongst Bahamians.
A Report issued by the General Assembly of the United Nations further indicates that by the year 2050, persons 60 years and older will account for one quarter of the population in the Caribbean.
“The increase in illness associated with old age such as arthritis, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and dementia, will result in greater demands on healthcare and social security systems,” Mrs. Griffin said.
“As if these challenges were not enough, everyone is well aware of the increasing costs of healthcare. In fact, the average Bahamian household spends $2,000 per year on healthcare.”
Mrs. Griffin said what “is so saddening” about that particular fact is that an illness which is severe, but treatable, “can literally be a death sentence to poorer members of our community.”
“We must, as Christians and as representatives of the people, remember that behind each of these numbers there is a life, a human being, persons with loved ones who care, and persons who would live longer if they could afford the necessary healthcare,” Mrs. Griffin added.
Minister Griffin said for the period July 2015-June 2016, the Department of Social Services expended $226,796 for 148 clients for assistance with surgeries including open-heart surgery, various diagnostic tests, colonoscopies, prosthetics, assistance with eye surgeries including cataract removal and glaucoma treatments, and cancer therapy, among other procedures both locally and abroad through its Health Social Services (HSS) Division.
The Department, which also provides a Disability Allowance for Children With Special Needs up to the age of 16, disbursed $326,720 for 1,338 children while disability allowance in the amount of $7,380 was paid out to 47 adults with temporary disabilities.
Additionally, from 2013-2015, HSS workers handled more than 18,000 cases (4,377 in 2013; 6,632 in 2014 and more than 7,000 in 2015). HSS/PMH also processed almost 5,000 persons for Med Cards that are valued at $100 each and are for services related to lab tests, medication and X-Rays.
“When we say that many persons die because they are unable to afford healthcare, many persons believe that this is just a cliché,” Mrs. Griffin continued, “however, very recently, some $38,000 – that was to be used to assist nine clients with surgeries, five of them Open Heart Surgery -- was returned to the Accounts Section of the Department of Social Services by service providers because those surgeries never took place.
“They never took place because -- in spite of the intervention of two Government agencies -- the clients and their families were unable to raise the additional funds they had indicated they would be able to raise to pay for the procedures.
“Let us imagine, if only for a second, the death of a loved one, a sister, a mother, a brother, a death that could have been prevented. My staff reports that some persons have died before they could get the funds necessary to improve their health. This has been the cause of great distress for them. In spite of our best efforts, the resources as they are, are not sufficient. We are long overdue to move to the next level,” Mrs. Griffin said.
© Copyright 2016 by thebahamasweekly.com
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